Canopy support



Dec. 26, w TOMLINS CANOPY SUPPORT Filed Nov. 25. 1932 INVENTOR I 76 715075. whim ATTORbiEY Patented Dec. 26, 1933 1,940,981 oANorY SUPPORT William Tomlins, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 25, 1932 Serial No. 644,188.

Claims. (Cl.-135.4)

Thisinvention relates to canopy supports and the object of the invention is to provide a support for a tent canopy arranged to raise the center of the canopy to prevent water from collecting in the canopy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device adapted to 'be detachably secured to two of the canopy supporting poles andarranged to maintain. a yieldable pressure on the underside of the canopy in order to raise the center thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding device which is adjustable to fit different size canopies and different pole spacings.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawing in which-- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tent and canopy equipped with my improved canopy support.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the canopy support with one arm broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line A-A of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is an enlargedsection taken on line B-B of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line CC of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line Fig. 11 is a plan view of the canopy support in the folded position.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the device comprises two members 1 and 2 which arerhinged together by the hinge pin 3. Each of these members 1 and V 2 is provided with a tubular extension 4 provided with a slot 5 therein. The tubular extension 4 extends at a slight angle from the hinge and each extension 4 is provided with an arm 6 slidably mounted therein. Each arm 6is provided with a pin 7 mounted therein having an upwardly extending end which rides in the slot 5 of the respective tubular e'xtensionj As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a Ushaped hingemember 8 is secured to the end of therod 6 by the pin 9 and a second rod 10 is secured in the member 8 by the pin 11. The end 12 of the rod 10 is off-set as shown in Fig. 5 so that this rod may be turned on the pivot 11 to the folded position shown in Fig. 11. As

shown in Fig. 7, the rodlO extends in thesame direction as therodfi when in use and the end of the rod 10 is provided with a downwardly bent portion 13 having a foot -14 securedthereto, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Thisioot 14 engages the respective can py Supporting pole l5 and a hook 16 is pivo l m un d o h por ion 1, o t e. rod 10 and is adapted to be hooked about-the r spe ive a o ppo in pol a sh wn in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

In operation, the two rods 10 are hooked onto the respective canopy supporting poles 15 at a distance below the canopy. The hinge portions 1 and 2 are then drawn out to position beneath the center of the canopy at which time, by grasping the footends 14 of the rods 10, the entire device may be slid up on the poles so as to bring the hinge into engagement with the center of the canopy. As the foot ends 14 are moved to the top of the poles, the center of the canopyis raised and will lie on the device in about the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 and in full lines in Fig. 1.

In this connection, it will be noted that the portions 13 of the rods 10 which are of spring steel, form a spring portion for yieldably supporting the canopy and this tension is maintained on the canopy to hold the center of the canopy in the raised position shown in Fig. 1. The rods 6 and 10 are preferably both made of spring steel in order to give a proper spring action. In case square poles are provided for supporting the canopy, interchangeable hooks similar to the hooks 16 are provided for the device which will properly engage a square pole and in this case, the ends of the feet 14 will engage against the sides of the square poles. To disassemble the device, the foot portions may be slid down on the I poles 15 at which time, they may be disengaged from the poles and the rods 10 may be turned on the pivots 11 to the folded position shown in Fig.

' 11 and the hinge portions 1 and 2 may be pushed inwardly on the rods 6 so that the rods engage in the ends or" the tubular members 4 nearest the hinge. In this folded position, shown in Fig. 11,

the device is very compact and may be easily carried. Without a center support, rain water collects in the canopy and as the weight increases,

it is apt to pull out the canopy guy ropes and tip the supporting poles over. With this device, however, rain water is prevented from collecting in the canopy and assures the tent remaining upright through any kind of a rain. From the foregoing description, it becomes evident that the device is very simple and eflicient in operation will not easily get out of order, is composed of few parts and is of consequent low manufacturing cost and provides a device which ac complishes the objects described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is'- 1. In a canopy support for canopies having a pair of supporting poles, a hinge having a pair of socket members extending therefrom, a rod slidable longitudinally of each socket member and having a foot at the opposite end adapted for engagement with the respective pole, a hook pivotally mounted on each rod adjacent the foot and arranged to engage about the respective supporting pole, the rods being formed of spring steel and being arranged to bring the hinge into contact with the underside of the canopy as the rods are moved upwardly on the supporting poles.

2. In a canopy support for canopies having a pair of supporting poles, a rod slidably supported on each supporting-pole, a pair of socket members hinged together and arranged to receive the ends of the rods, the rods fitting in the socket members and being slidable longitudinally thereof and the rods being slidable upwardly on the poles to bring the hinge into contact with the canopy.

3. In a canopy support for canopies having a pair of supporting poles, a pair of spring supporting rods hinged together and each having a foov at the end opposite the hinge to engage the respective supporting pole and a hook pivotally mounted on the end of each supporting rod and arranged to engage about the respective supporting pole, the arrangement being such that a spring tension is applied to the underside of the canopy when the feet are moved to the top of the canopy supporting poles.

4. In a canopy support for canopies having a pair of supporting poles, a pair of rods hinged together at one end, the opposite end of each rod being downwardly bent and being provided with a foot on the end thereof and a hook rotatably mounted on each rod above the foot and arranged for engagement about the respective canopy supporting pole.

5. In a canopy support for canopies having a pair of supporting poles, a telescoping rod slidably supported on each supporting pole, a hinge member connecting the telescoping rods together at the end opposite the poles, the supports on the poles being slidable upwardly to move the hinge member to position to place a tension on the center of the canopy.

WILLIAM TOMLINS. 

